The appointment, valid for a period of six months, was made by dispatch from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) of Guinea-Bissau, the entity responsible for the management of the National Health Surveillance System. The appointment order also draws attention for the high risk of spreading the pandemic in the country.
Professor Baldé holds a doctorate in Biotechnology, having served as Rector of UniPiaget since 2014. At 55 years old, and with an international career linked to several countries, he is one of the most respected Guinean cadres, with a vast work in the field of biology.
The Jean Piaget University of Guinea-Bissau (UniPiaget) is part of the wider and more dynamic universe of the Piaget Institute, with a presence in several Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Brazil, in addition to Portugal. Equipped with its own well-equipped facilities, it offers university training in areas as diverse as Medicine, Engineering and Education, contributing to the creation of a new pool of staff capable of leading the country's development process.
In addition to the concern with quality training, these various institutions of Higher Education in Portuguese Language stand out for their active role alongside the communities where they operate, in convergence with one of the strategic areas of intervention of the Piaget Institute.
As part of the fight against Covid-19, the Guinean authorities declared a state of emergency and the closure of air, land and sea borders in the country, with these measures being accompanied by a broader set of restrictions, as is already the case in many other African countries.
In recent days, health authorities have insisted that Guineans comply with the recommendations and avoid leaving home. Among the restrictions imposed, the one that only allows people to circulate between 7 and 11 am stands out. The population has also been encouraged to use masks when traveling to markets to buy food and to create their own protective masks, taking into account the high cost of this material.
According to the latest data, Guinea-Bissau has 38 confirmed cases of Covid-19, 58% men and 42% women, almost all concentrated in the capital, pending the results of analyzes made on several cases considered suspect. However, 3 cases have already been reported as recovered.
In total, the new coronavirus has already caused 630 deaths in Africa, with 12,219 cases reported in 52 countries, while 1,313 people have recovered.